Slavomir Krajnak

G-8 Geriatric Screening Tool Independently Predicts Progression-Free Survival in Older Ovarian Cancer Patients Irrespective of Maximal Surgical Effort: Results of a Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: We evaluated the prognostic impact of various global health assessment tools in patients older than 60 years with ovarian cancer (OC). Methods: G-8 geriatric screening tool (G-8 score), Lee Schonberg prognostic index, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) were determined retrospectively in a consecutive cohort of elderly patients with OC. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses and Kaplan-Meier method were performed to analyze the impact of the preoperative global health status on survival. Results: 116 patients entered the study. In multivariate analysis adjusted for clinical-pathological factors, only the G-8 score retained significance as a prognostic parameter of progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.970; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.056–3.677]; p = 0.033). Fifty-six patients were classified as G-8-nonfrail with an increased PFS compared to 50 G-8-frail patients (53.4% vs. 16.7%; p = 0.010). A higher CCI was associated with decreased PFS (45.1% vs. 22.2%; p = 0.012), but it did not influence the risk of recurrences or death (p = 0.360; p = 0.111). The Lee Schonberg prognostic index, the ECOG, and age were not associated with survival. Conclusions: The G-8 score independently predicted PFS in elderly OC patients regardless of maximal surgical effort. Thus, it could be useful to assess surgical treatment based on frailty rather than age alone.

Role of integrins in the metastatic spread of high-grade serous ovarian cancer

Abstract Purpose Integrins may be involved in the metastatic spread of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) which determines the therapeutical approach and prognosis. We investigated the integrin expression in primary tumor and metastases of advanced HGSOC. Methods The expression of integrin α2, α4, α5, α6, and β1 was assessed by immunostaining in tumor samples of the ovary, omentum, and peritoneum of each patient. Differences in integrin expression among tumor localizations and their association with clinicopathological parameters were examined by Fisher’s exact test. The impact of integrin expression on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was examined by Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier analyses. Results Hundred and thirteen tumor samples of 40 HGSOC patients were examined. The expression of the integrins did not differ between the three tumor localizations (all p values > 0.05) with the exception of high expression of integrin α4 in primary tumor and omentum (52.5% versus 47.5%, p = 0.008) and primary tumor and peritoneum (52.5% versus 47.5%, p = 0.050). High expression of integrin α4 in peritoneum was associated with poorer PFS (HR 2.02 95% CI 1.01–4.05, p = 0.047), younger age (p = 0.047), and death (p = 0.046). Median PFS in patients with high expression of integrin α4 was 13.00 months, whereas median PFS in patients without high expression of integrin α4 was 21.00 months (p = 0.040). Expression of other integrins did not correlate with PFS or OS. Conclusion Expression of integrin α4 may be altered during the metastatic spread of HGSOC and affect prognosis, whereas expression of integrin α2, α5, α6, and β1 did not reveal any prognostic value.